Quality Matters

Quality Matters (QM) is a non-profit, faculty-driven course assurance organization.

What is Quality Matters? 

Through a rigorous review process, QM's tools and processes enable instructors to continuously improve their online and blended courses using a research-based rubric of QM Course Design Standards. Additionally, QM offers online and on-site professional development opportunities for instructors concerned with student-centered teaching and learning and online and blended course quality.

QM Training

Applying the Quality Matters Rubric

Also known as APPQMR. Get to know the QM Rubric and how the course review process works. This course is intended for a broad audience, including but not limited to faculty, instructional designers, administrators, and adjunct instructors. It is particularly helpful to those new to QM or those considering the adoption of a quality assurance process for online and blended learning. Participants should expect to spend at least 12 to 15 hours of time per week on achieving the learning objectives. NIC eLearning facilitates this workshop once or twice a year.

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the foundational concepts of Quality Matters.
2. Identify the critical elements of the QM quality assurance program, including the QM Rubric, materials, processes, and administrative components. 
3. Apply the QM Rubric to review online courses.
4. make decisions on whether the demo course meets selected QM Rubric Standards.
5. Apply the concept of alignment.
6. Draft helpful recommendations for course improvement by citing annotations from the QM Rubric and evidence from the course.

Self-Review

Completion of the APPQMR gives learners access to QM's Course Review portal. The portal allows users to self-review their course using the QM Rubric.

Request an Informal Course Review

Informal Course Reviews can give you valuable insight on ways to improve your course design. After conducting an Internal Review, the Final Report shows the collective strengths and weaknesses of the course, every reviewer’s personal feedback, and a review score that reflects the overall quality of the course. The reports become part of an organization's QM data, which can be utilized in data analysis and evidence for accreditation. Though Informal Course Reviews do not quality for QM certification, they are a great way to prepare for the QM Course Certification. If you would like to have your course reviewed by NIC’s QM-trained professionals using the QM Rubric, please contact elearning@nic.edu. QM Course Reviews do not evaluate instructors or teaching approaches, only course design.

QM Course Certification

Official Review of a course is the best way to benchmark design efforts and improvements. And, it’s the only way to certify course quality for everyone to see — with the QM Certification Mark. A course becomes QM-Certified once it meets QM Rubric Standards at the 85% threshold or better and meets all Essential Specific Review Standards. You’ll also receive useful recommendations from the review team that will help improve the course.